When oreos meet cupcakes...

I get a cupcake newsletter from Taste of Home each month. Last month I laid eyes upon a yummy cupcake called the Chocolate Cookie Cupcake. Due to cookie politics they don't tell you those are OREOS! My all time favorite cookie.

I was planning on making them for game night with friends, but my husband got sick. I mentioned that I wouldn't make cupcakes if we weren't going and he replied, "No go ahead, and if there are any left over I will take them with me next week." I guess cupcakes are like chicken noodle soup to him. :)

I followed the recipe as listed on the link above except for the frosting. Instead of store bought vanilla frosting I made my standard buttercream and added more vanilla to it. They turned out pretty yummy and they do go well with a tall glass of milk.

Happy Baking,
AJ

Hippity...Hoppity...Easter is on its way!

Easter is just around the corner! Have you figured out your Easter desserts? I have been playing around with cupcake ideas for my Easter gathering and I thought I would share them with you.

This year I decided on 2 types of cupcakes: carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and a vanilla cupcake decorated like an Easter basket. I let my husband taste the carrot cake and he LOVED it. This is a good sign considering he never eats carrots. I might have found a way to feed him his vegetables... :)

Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting and a handmade chocolate carrot topper

Easter basket cupcakes: vanilla cake with buttercream frosting, a handmade chocolate handle, and robin eggs

If you are interesting in purchasing these cupcakes, well not this batch - a fresh one, for your Easter gathering let me know. They are $24 per dozen (you can mix designs). I will be accepting orders until April 18th. You can order by sending me an email, commenting on this post, or chatting via Facebook.

Happy Baking,
AJ

St. Patrick's Day: Red Velvet goes GREEN!

In honor of St. Patrick's Day I decided to whip up some green cupcakes. It just so happens that my neighbor's birthday is on the same day. SCORE, St. Patrick's birthday cupcakes! To make them festive I whipped up a standard red velvet cake mix and added green food coloring. To top them off I frosted them with homemade cream cheese frosting and a hand piped chocolate shamrock covered in sprinkles.

Happy St. Patrick's Day & Happy Birthday Kristine.

Happy Baking,
AJ

Baby Shower Cupcakes

My good friend Jessica threw her big sister a baby shower this weekend. She and I had been thinking about what kind of cupcakes she wanted at the shower long before she had a date, time, or theme! :) We are party planners that way. LOL We decided that we wanted to do a cupcake bar. We were waiting to figure out colors and flavors until she picked the theme. Once the invitations arrived the ideas sparked from there.

We decided to do four dozen cupcakes in a variety of flavors. Vanilla, Strawberry, Strawberry Vanilla, Chocolate, Chocolate Vanilla, Red Velvet. Since monkeys were a big part of the theme and decorations, I decided to do monkey faces on a dozen of them. Here is the variety before I took them to the shower:

I was really looking forward to setting them up at the shower. Jessica purchased a stand to decorate, and I knew it was going to be so cute. In addition to the cupcakes, I persuaded Jessica to make monkey treats. I made them for my daughter's 2nd birthday and they were a big hit.

Check out the cupcakes on display and Jessica's baby monkey treats.

Her sister Kelly had a great shower. She got a lot of wonderful gifts that I am sure she will get a lot of use out of.

Come on baby Jake. Your Mom and Dad have all the necessary supplies, and your Aunt Jessica can't wait to meet you.

Happy Baking,
Adrian

Mardi Gras Cupcakes

A while back I was browsing the internet and stumbled upon a cupcake that had bi-colored frosting. First thought that crossed my mind when I saw it, "Cool." Second thought, "I must master this technique." To prepare I did what most people do, Googled it. I read several blogs, watched videos, and examined pictures. It seemed easy enough. For my trial run I decided to go with Mardi Gras colors. Who doesn't love Mardi Gras??? Advice for those who don't...never turn away a good cupcake! :)

When I was finished I knew I had to have one more thing to make it complete, beads. I rummaged through my daughter's play jewelry and pulled out as many strands of beads that I could find. She didn't have very many, she likes superheros, and well they don't wear to many necklaces!

So how did I do it? I loaded each of the colors in saran wrap, rolled them the length of the frosting bag, and tied it off at one end. Then I inserted both frosting logs (not the best word, but it offered the best visual) into the bag. Then I began to squeeze them equally to load both colors in the frosting bag at the same time. Then I began piping away. It was pretty easy, messy, but easy.

Happy Mardi Gras to you!

Happy Baking,
AJ

Have any leftover Valentine's Day candy?

Or are you still working through the bag? We had some leftover that I decided to find a new home, on the top of a cupcake. My candy of choice, Valentine's M&Ms. The lovely blend of pink, fuchsia, white and red chocolaty morsels that melt in your mouth and not your hand! I have proof that marketing slogan isn't true, but I will save it for another post.


As I was preparing cupcakes for a girlfriend's birthday I had the idea. Here is how it went down:

Me: "Honey, do you think that chopped up M&Ms will go with this cupcake?"
Hubby: "Umm, what, I guess."
Me: "See I am making these chocolate cupcakes and they have fuchsia frosting. It matches the M&Ms, should I use it or regular sprinkles?"
Hubby: "Well, after watching that episode of Cupcake Wars with you last night I think just about anything can go on the top of a cupcake."

It was settled...they were getting smashed! Love how my Assistant Design Consultant helps me make decisions with ease. Tee hee.

Just think of all the other cupcake decorations you can make with leftover candy:

• Conversation Hearts
• Heart lollipops - the sticks are just long enough for a cupcake
• Hershey Kisses - can be baked inside the cupcake for a nice filling or an accent
• Reese's (pieces or the new mini-cups)
• Snickers
• Chocolate covered cherries

You get the drift...just about anything. But I would stay away from things like Pixie Sticks or Starbursts, unless those things float your cupcake boat!

Now back to the cupcakes...a girlfriend of mine had a birthday a few weeks ago. We had a happy hour planned, but the big Texas Blizzard came and didn't leave any snow so we cancelled. Then she was sick so her birthday cupcakes turned into belated birthday cupcakes. She is a "wild child" (LOL - you know I love you Tracy) so zebra liners and fuchsia frosting were a must have. Here are her cupcakes topped with my assistant's sprinkle recommendation:

Devil's food with fuchsia buttercream and M&Ms

Up close of the M&M sprinkles. Just put them in a baggie and smash them with a rolling pin.

I am taking these to her tomorrow to celebrate. They are a surprise. So if she doesn't read this before tomorrow they still will be! LOL

Happy Baking & Happy Belated Birthday T,
AJ

A little lovin from the oven...

Nothing says Valentine's Day like sweet treats! Some people like boxes of chocolate, but me and my family prefer cookies and cupcakes! Not only are they great to share with family, they also make great gifts for coworkers and teachers. Check out the heart-shaped goodies I whipped up this year:



White cake with buttercream frosting and sprinkles. Heart liners by Wilton.

Vanilla almond sugar cookies with royal icing and sprinkles
*Note: Lovely background flowers courtesy of my husband.*

For the longest time I was never able to make cookies turn out right. Their shape would be too puffy or the icing looked off. I recently saw a posting on Bake at 350. She makes brilliant cookies, and she shared a few of her recipes on the site. Now I am hooked, and no longer shackled by slice-n-bake!

Vanilla almond sugar cookies & Royal icing

Hope your Valentine's day is full of sweet treats!

Happy Baking,
AJ